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Allen Fife Tribute & Salute to America
Perris Raceway September 11, 2021
By: Steve Evans dreamteamspeedway@sbcglobal.net
MANZARES WINS PERRIS 9/11 SALUTE TO AMERICA OPENER
The Perris 2021/2022 season opened just as the last one ended, with a Gino Manzares Main event win from the back! It was a stunning night of Speedway at Perris Raceway on 9/11 for the annual ‘Allen Fife Salute to America Memorial’ night. With big prize money on the line, a full 16 rider and 23 race heats Speedway Grand Prix format was used with some sensational racing on a well prepared track.
The quality of the field rang clear with no rider on a perfect score after the 20 heats. Both Manzares and Max Ruml went into their heat 20 showdown on 11 points, with Ruml’s subsequent victory earning him first seeding and gate pick in the semifinals. Two time US National Champion Aaron Fox was third placed after the heats, 3 wins earned him 12 points. Three riders were tied on 11 with Austin Novratil’s three wins getting him the fourth ranking over Team USA Speedway of Nations rider Blake Borello and his mentor Chris Kerr. Russell Green did not have his best night with no heat wins, but he still qualified in 7th place on 9. The eighth and final semifinal slot went to 16 year Division 1 debutante Slater Lightcap on 8, Lightcap secured his spot with a sensational heat 18 win.
Close calls to qualifying went to veteran Eddie Castro and Wilbur Hancock, both missing the cut by one point, and Rees Todd, who’s round 4 bike failure proved costly.
Semi Final 1 saw Ruml, who had won four heats on the bounce after a heat 1 defeat to Kerr, lead home Kerr from Green. Novratil, who did not make the best start, could not find outside grip and ended up in 4th. Manzares won semi final two from Fox. Fox rode a smooth racing line to keep the fast charging Borello at bay, with Lightcap ending off an impressive senior debut with fourth place.
Ruml had first gate choice for the Main and went for gate two, with Manzares taking the outside. Fox took the previously favored inside choice with Kerr off of three. Ruml did not get a good start, with he inside rider of Fox leading Manzares from Kerr as they came out of turn 2. Fox lifted coming out of turn 4 which opened the door for Manzares, where he duly obliged to take the lead. Eventually Kerr and Ruml also found their way past Fox who lost his rhythm with his near get off. Manzares was never troubled from this point and the crowd favorite took another popular win at Perris.
As per usual several other divisions featured in the event, with their heats early at 5pm and Main Events interspersed between rounds of the Division 1 show. Mike Miller got a perfect two wins in his division two heats with veteran Rudy Laurer and Harold Hartke taking the other heats. Tyler Moszer was victorious in the consolation race. Kevin Fiore, in his first ride back in several months got in the groove to take the Main Event from Laurer.
Tom Bryant and Richard Perkins each took a division 3 heat with Perkins being victorious in the Main. Justin Almon won the first 250 Junior Speedway heat but Levi Leutz won out from there with heat two and Main. Darren Armbruster was the 150 Mini winner whilst Mason Sperry took the Pee Wee Class.
This was the fourth staging of the Salute to America event at Perris and the first time it was staged on 9/11 itself. This year the event paid tribute to former Speedway promoter, announcer and actor Allen Fife, who passed away in the last year. Allen’s son Kevin is a key part of the promotion team at Perris. This year’s Salute to America parade in honor of Allen Fife featured over 50 street bikes in procession around the track.
The Perris season will continue with monthly racing events through late Spring of 2022. Next up on October 16th is the Nick Varner Cup, which pays tribute to the former junior racer who passed away a decade ago after a racing crash in Moto Cross.
Results
Division 1
Main Event
24 Gino Manzares
27k Chris Kerr
5 Max Ruml
46 Aaron Fox
Semi 1: Ruml, Kerr, Green, Novratil.
Semi 2: Manzares, Fox, Borello, Lightcap
Heat Points:
Max Ruml 14, Gino Manzares 13, Aaron Fox 12, Austin Novratil 11, Blake Borello 11, Chris Kerr 11, Russell Green 9, Slater Lightcap 8, Eddie Castro 7, Wilbur Hancock 7, Rees Todd 5, Tim Gomez 5, Greg Moore 4, Mike Miller 1, Sara Cords 1, Kayle LeoGrande 1
Heat 1: Castro, Hancock, Moore, Miller
Heat 2: Novratil, Green, Lightcap, Cords
Heat 3: Kerr, Ruml, Todd, LeoGrande fell
Heat 4: Fox, Manzares, Borello, Gomez
Heat 5: Todd, Gomez, Miller, Cords ret
Heat 6: Manzares, Kerr, Lightcap, Hancock
Heat 7: Ruml, Fox, Green, Castro
Heat 8: Novratil, Borello, Moore, LeoGrande
Heat 9: Ruml, Borello, Lightcap, Miller
Heat 10: Fox, Hancock, Cords, LeoGrande fell
Heat 11: Manzares, Novratil, Todd, Castro
Heat 12: Kerr, Green, Gomez, Moore (tape 20 yard penalty)
Heat 13: Manzares, Green, LeoGrande, Miller
Heat 14: Ruml, Hancock, Gomez, Novratil fell
Heat 15: Borello, Castro, Kerr, Cords
Heat 16: Fox, Lightcap, Moore, Todd ret
Heat 17: Novratil, Kerr, Fox, Miller
Heat 18: Borello, Green, Hancock, Todd
Heat 19: Lightcap, Castro, Gomez, LeoGrande
Heat 20: Ruml, Manzares, Moore, Cords.
Division 2 Main
159 Kevin Fiore
182 Rudy Laurer
71 Mike Miller
111 David Newsham
290 Harold Hartke
Division 2 Consolation
327 Tyler Moszer
103 Brent Smith
118 Rohn Zellner ret
127 David Perry fell
Division 3 Main
151 Richard Perkins
220 Tom Bryant
107 Don Nemarnik
395 Nelson Soto
909 Manah Todd
113 Tony Rutledge (nonstarter)
250 Junior Main
226 Levi Leutz
123 Catherine Moore
7 Justin Almon DNF
48 Jose Navarrete DNF
150 Mini Speedway
203 Darren Armbruster
395 Brandon Soto
Pee Wee
199 Mason Sperry
69 Rey Resendez
159 Kayd Fiore
50 Jackson Spinuzzi
175 Morgan Myers
175x Maddux Myers
34 Conrad Spencer
55 Bradley Wyrick
48 Sadie Lee Talkington
24 Slater Sperry
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